Flexible multiprocessor alarm data processing system

Abstract

A multiprocessor alarm data processing system includes a database with identifying information for all the central stations and their subscribers who use the system. Several input processors receive alarm data from the central stations to identify subscribers incurring alarm events. The input processors generate event records for alarm data validated against the database. Several output processors are provided to process the event records to select the appropriate municipal authority and transmit thereto identifying information for a sucscriber incurring an alarm event. The processors may be switched between input and output processing for dynamic internal load shifting and redundant processing systems are provided for inter-system load sharing. A busy-out capable modem is provided to facilitate such inter-system load sharing.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is: 
     
       1. An alarm data processing system for reporting to municipal authorities alarm events incurred by subscribers of central stations comprising: database means for storing identifying information for each of the subscribers;   record means for storing event records;   several input processor means each for (i) receiving, from at least one of the central stations, alarm data identifying at least one subscriber incurring an alarm event, (ii) validating the received alarm data based upon the identifying information in the database means, and (iii) generating and storing in the record means an event record having data based upon the validated alarm data;   several output processor means each for (i) processing one of the event records from the record means so as to select a municipal authority and generate an alarm information report including at least part of the identifying information from the database means for the subscriber incurring the alarm event based upon the data in the event record being processed, and (ii) transmitting the alarm information report to the selected municipal authority.   
     
     
       2. The alarm data processing system of claim 1 further comprising: network transmitter means associated with at least one of the central stations for selectively transmitting alarm data from the central station to one of the input processing means.   
     
     
       3. The alarm data processing system of claim 1 further comprising means to temporarily establish a communication link between one of the central stations and one of the input processor means, whereby after the alarm data is received from the one central station, the one input processor means may thereafter receive alarm data from another central station. 
     
     
       4. The alarm data processing system of claim 1 further comprising: means for temporarily establishing a communication link between one of the output processor means and the municipal authority selected thereby, whereby after the output processor means transmits the alarm information report to the selected municipal authority, it may thereafter transmit an alarm information report to another municipal authority.   
     
     
       5. The alarm data processing system of claim 1 further comprising: busy/ready means associated with a first of the output processor means for indicating that the first output processor means has already selected the municipal authority being selected by a second of the output processor means;   means associated with the second output processor means for generating a busy/ready record with data correlated to at least the event record being processed by the second output processor means; and   means associated with the first output processor means for generating a second alarm information report based at least in part upon the data in the ready/busy record, whereby both the first-mentioned alarm information report and the second alarm information report are transmitted to the municipal authority by the first output processor means so the second output processor means may be freed up to process another one of the event records in the meantime.   
     
     
       6. The alarm data processing system of claim 1 further comprising: DTMF processing means for (i) receiving cancellation alarm data, the cancellation alarm data including data identifying one of the subscribers, (ii) validating the received cancellation alarm data against the identifying information in the database means, and (iii) generating and storing an event record having data based upon the validated cancellation alarm data;   wherein each output processor means includes means operable when processing an event record based upon validated cancellation alarm data ("cancel event record") for (i) examining a group of other event records for an event record based upon validated alarm data ("alarm event record") identifying the same subscriber, (ii) if such an alarm event record is found, processing the cancel event record as if it were an alarm event record and including in the alarm information report that the report is of a cancellation, and (iii) if no such alarm record is found, discontinuing processing of the cancel event record, whereby a municipal authority need not be selected and an alarm information report need not be generated.   
     
     
       7. The alarm data processing system of claim 6 wherein the DTMF processing means includes means for receiving the cancellation alarm data from a telephone. 
     
     
       8. The alarm data processing system of claim 1 further comprising: DTMF processing means for (i) receiving cancellation alarm data, the cancellation alarm data including data identifying one of the subscribers, (ii) validating the received cancellation alarm data against the identifying information in the database means, and (iii) generating and storing an event record having data based upon the validated cancellation alarm data;   each output processor means including means operable when processing of an event record based upon validated alarm data ("alarm event record") for (i) examining a group of other event records for an event record based upon validated cancellation alarm data ("cancel event record") identifying the same subscriber, and (ii) if such a cancel event record is found, terminating processing of the alarm event record, whereby a municipal authority need not be selected and an alarm information report need not be generated.   
     
     
       9. The alarm data processing system of claim 8 wherein the DTMF processing means includes means for receiving the cancellation alarm data from a telephone. 
     
     
       10. The alarm data processing system of claim 1 wherein the database means further includes means for storing a vendor code and status information for each central station, the status information being indicative of whether the central station is active in the system, and wherein the alarm data further includes the vendor code of the central station from which the alarm data is received, the system further comprising: receiving processor means for (i) receiving data from municipal authorities identifying a central station that is not to be active in the system, and (ii) for modifying the status information for that central station in the database means accordingly, whereby received alarm data identifying that central station will not be validated.   
     
     
       11. The alarm data processing system of claim 1 wherein the identifying information for each subscriber in the database means includes status information being indicative of whether the subscriber is active in the system, the system further comprising: receiving processor means for (i) receiving data from municipal authorities identifying a subscriber that is not to be active in the system, and (ii) for modifying the status information for that subscriber in the database means accordingly, whereby received alarm data identifying that subscriber will not be validated.   
     
     
       12. The alarm data processing system of claim 1 wherein the input processor means store each event record along with a sequence number corresponding to the order of receipt of the alarm data, each output processor means including interleave means, operable upon completion of processing of the event record having a sequence number n, for selecting to be next processed by that output processor means one of the as-yet unprocessed event records having the lowest sequence number greater than n. 
     
     
       13. The alarm data processing system of claim 1 further comprising: processor status means associated with each of the processor means for periodically being updated by the associated processor means with at least one of an indication of its function and the time of updating; and   supervisor means monitoring the processor status means for determining when a processor has indicated at least one of (i) a time of updating more than a period of time before being monitored, and (ii) an erroneous function, whereby to determine whether that processor means may be faulty.   
     
     
       14. The alarm data processing system of claim 1, wherein alarm data is to be received over telephone lines interconnecting a plurality of the central stations and the input processor means, at least some of the input processor means each including busy-out capable modem means for selectively causing the telephone line to that input processor means to be busy in a busy-out mode of the modem means, whereby a call on that telephone line may be call-forwarded to another of the telephone lines. 
     
     
       15. An alarm data processing system for reporting to municipal authorities alarm events incurred by subscribers of central stations comprising: database means for storing identifying information for each of the subscribers;   record means for storing event records;   several processor means, each including function means for selectively adapting the processor means to perform a variety of functions at least two of which are input processing and output processing;   each processor means, when it is adapted for performing input processing, for (i) receiving, from at least one of the central stations, alarm data identifying at least one subscriber incurring an alarm event, (ii) validating the received alarm data based upon the identifying information in the database means, and (iii) generating and storing in the record means an event record having data corresponding to the validated alarm data;   each processor means, when it is adapted for performing output processing, for (i) processing one of the event records from the record means so as to select a municipal authority and generate an alarm information report including at least part of the identifying information from the database means for the subscriber incurring the alarm event based upon the data in the event record being processed, and (ii) transmitting the alarm information report to the selected municipal authority; and   supervisor means controlling the function means of each of the processor means for defining the respective function to be performed by that processor means.   
     
     
       16. The alarm data processing system of claim 15, a first number of the processor means being adapted for output processing, the supervisor means including means monitoring the record means for defining at least one additional processor means for output processing when a quantity of event records waiting to be processed exceeds a limit. 
     
     
       17. The alarm data processing system of claim 16, the limit being at least two times the first number of processor means. 
     
     
       18. The alarm data processing system of claim 15 further comprising: processor status means associated with each of the processor means for periodically being updated by the associated processor means with an indication of its function;   the supervisor means including means monitoring the processor status means for determining when a processor means indicates a function other than that defined by the system supervisor for that processor means, whereby to determine whether that processor means may be faulty.   
     
     
       19. The alarm data processing system of claim 15 further comprising: processor status means associated with each of the processor means for periodically being updated by the associated processor means with an indication of its function and the time of updating;   the supervisor means including means monitoring the processor status means for determining when a processor means has indicated at least one of (i) a time of updating more than a period of time before being monitored, and (ii) a function other than that defined by the system supervisor for that processor means, whereby to determine whether that processor means may be faulty.   
     
     
       20. The alarm data processing system of claim 15 further comprising: network transmitter means associated with at least one of the central stations for selectively transmitting alarm data from the central station to one of the processor means adapted for input processing.   
     
     
       21. The alarm data processing system of claim 15 further comprising: means for temporarily establishing a communication link between one of the central stations and one of the processor means adapted for input processing, whereby after the alarm data is received for the one central station, the one processor means may thereafter receive alarm data from another central station.   
     
     
       22. The alarm data processing system of claim 15 further comprising: means, associated with each processor means and operable when the processor means is adapted for output processing, for temporarily establishing a communication link between the processor means and the municipal authority selected thereby, whereby after the processor means transmits the alarm information report to the selected authority, it may thereafter transmit an alarm information report to another municipal authority.   
     
     
       23. The alarm data processing system of claim 15 further comprising: busy/ready means associated with a first of the processor means adapted for output processing for indicating that the first processor means has already selected the municipal authority being selected by a second of the processor means adapted for output processing;   means associated with the second processor means for generating a busy/ready record with data correlated to at least the event record being processed by the second processor means; and   means associated with the first processor means for generating a second alarm information report based at least in part upon the data in the ready/busy record, whereby both the first-mentioned alarm information report and the second alarm information report are transmitted to the municipal authority by the first processor means so the second processor means may be freed up to process another one of the event records in the meantime.   
     
     
       24. The alarm data processing system of claim 23 wherein the busy/ready means includes a flag which when set is indicative that the second processor has selected the same municipal authority, and wherein the second processor means includes means for setting the flag in the busy/ready means. 
     
     
       25. The alarm data processing system of claim 15 further comprising: DTMF processing means for (i) receiving cancellation alarm data, the cancellation alarm data including data identifying one of the subscribers, (ii) validating the received cancellation alarm data against the identifying information in the database means, and (iii) generating an event record including at least part of the validated cancellation alarm data;   wherein each processor means adapted for output processing includes means operable when processing of an event record including validated cancellation alarm data ("cancel event record") for (i) examining a group of other event records for an event record based upon validated alarm data ("alarm event record") identifying the same subscriber, (ii) if such an alarm event record is found, processing the cancel event record as if it were an alarm event record and including in the alarm information report that the report is of a cancellation, and (iii) if no such alarm record is found, discontinuing processing of the cancel event record, whereby a municipal authority need not be selected and an alarm information report need not be generated.   
     
     
       26. The alarm data processing system of claim 25 wherein the DTMF processing means includes means for receiving the cancellation alarm data from a telephone. 
     
     
       27. The alarm data processing system of claim 15 further comprising: DTMF processing means for (i) receiving cancellation alarm data, the cancellation alarm data including data identifying one of the subscribers, (ii) validating the received cancellation alarm data against the identifying information in the database means, and (iii) generating an event record including at least part of the validated cancellation alarm data;   each processor means adapted for output processing including means operable when processing of an event record based upon validated alarm data ("alarm event record") for (i) examining a group of other event records for an event record based upon validated cancellation alarm data ("cancel event record") identifying the same subscriber, and (ii) if such a cancel event record is found, terminating processing of the alarm event record, whereby a municipal authority need not be selected and an alarm information report need not be generated.   
     
     
       28. The alarm data processing system of claim 27 wherein the DTMF processing means includes means for receiving the cancellation alarm data from a telephone. 
     
     
       29. The alarm data processing system of claim 15 wherein the database means further includes means for storing a vendor code and status information for each central station, the status information being indicative of whether the central station is active in the system, and wherein the alarm data further includes the vendor code of the central station from which the alarm data is received, the system further comprising: receiving processor means for (i) receiving data from municipal authorities identifying a central station that is not to be active in the system, and (ii) for modifying the status information for that central station in the database means accordingly, whereby received alarm data identifying that central station will not be validated.   
     
     
       30. The alarm data processing system of claim 15 wherein the identifying information for each subscriber in the database means further includes status information being indicative of whether the subscriber is active in the system, the system further comprising: receiving processor means for (i) receiving data from municipal authorities identifying a subscriber that is not to be active in the system, and (ii) for modifying the status information for that subscriber in the database means accordingly, whereby received alarm data identifying that subscriber will not be validated.   
     
     
       31. The alarm data processing system of claim 15 wherein those processor means adapted for input processing store each event record along with a sequence number corresponding to the order of receipt of the alarm data, each processor means adapted for output processing including means, operable upon completion of processing the event record having a sequence number n, for selecting to be next processed by that processor means one of the as-yet unprocessed event records having the lowest sequence number greater than n. 
     
     
       32. The alarm data processing system of claim 15 wherein alarm data is to be received over telephone lines interconnecting a plurality of the central stations and those processor means adapted for input processing, at least some of the processor means including busy-out capable modem means for selectively causing the telephone line to that processor means to be busy in a busy-out mode of the modem means, whereby a call on that telephone line may be call-forwarded to another one of the telephone lines. 
     
     
       33. Redundant alarm data processing systems for reporting to municipal authorities, alarm events incurred by subscribers of central stations, each system comprising: database means for storing identifying information for each of the subscribers;   record means for storing event records;   several input processor means each for (i) receiving, from at least one of the central stations, alarm data identifying at least one subscriber incurring an alarm event, (ii) validating the received alarm data based upon the identifying information in the database means, and (iii) generating and storing in the record means an event record having data corresponding to the validated alarm data; and   several output processor means each for (i) processing one of the event records from the record means so as to select a municipal authority and generate an alarm information report including at least part of the identifying information from the database means for the subscriber incurring the alarm event based upon the data in the event record being processed, and (ii) transmitting the alarm information report to the selected municipal authority; and   at least one of the systems further comprising:   supervisor means monitoring the record means of that system for transferring a group of event records not yet processed to another one of the systems for processing by the output processor means of that other system.   
     
     
       34. The redundant alarm data processing systems of claim 33, wherein alarm data is to be received over telephone lines interconnecting a plurality of the central stations and the input processor means of the systems, at least some of the input processor means in a first of the systems each including busy-out capable modem means for selectively causing the telephone line to that input processor means to be busy in a busy-out mode of the modem means, whereby a call on that telephone line may be call-forwarded to another of the telephone lines such as a telephone line to the input processor means of a second of the systems. 
     
     
       35. Redundant alarm data processing systems for reporting to municipal authorities alarm events incurred by subscribers of central stations, each system comprising: database means for storing identifying information for each of the subscribers;   record means for storing event records;   several input processor means, each including function means for selectively adapting the processor means for performing a variety of functions two of which are input processing and output processing;   each processor means, when it is adapted for performing input processing, for (i) receiving, from at least one of the central stations, alarm data identifying at least one subscriber incurring an alarm event, (ii) validating the received alarm data based upon the identifying information in the database means, and (iii) generating and storing in the record means an event record having data corresponding to the validated alarm data;   each processor means, when it is adapted for performing output processing, for (i) processing one of the event records from the record means so as to select a municipal authority and generate an alarm information report including at least part of the identifying information from the database means for the subscriber incurring the alarm event based upon the data in the event record being processed, and (ii) transmitting the alarm information report to the selected municipal authority; and   supervisor means controlling the function means of each of the processor means for defining the respective function to be performed by that processor means; and   the supervisor means of at least one of the systems including means monitoring the record means of that system for transferring a group of event records not yet processed to another one of the systems for processing by the output processor means of that other system.   
     
     
       36. The redundant alarm data processing systems of claim 35, wherein alarm data is to be received over telephone lines interconnecting a plurality of the central stations and the processor means of the systems, at least some of the processor means in a first of the systems each including busy-out capable modem means for selectively causing the telephone line to that processor means to be busy in a busy-out mode of the modem means, whereby a call on that telephone line may be call-forwarded to another one of the telephone lines such as the telephone line to one of the processor means of a second of the systems. 
     
     
       37. A data processing system comprising: record means for storing event records;   means receiving sets of data from a plurality of sources for (i) selectively connecting to the sources, (ii) generating an event record for each of a plurality of the sets of data, (iii) storing each event record, along with a sequence number corresponding to the order of receipt of the set of data in the record means, and (iv) disconnecting from each source prior to an event record based on data from that source being processed; and   several processor means each for processing one of the event records from the record means, each of the processor means including interleave means, operative upon completion of processing of the event record having a sequence number n, for automatically selecting to be next processed by that processor means one of the as-yet unprocessed event records having the lowest sequence number greater than n.   
     
     
       38. The data processing system of claim 37 wherein each event record includes a status flag being initially set to indicate that the event record is as-yet unprocessed, each processor means including means for modifying the status flag of the selected event record, whereby that event record will not thereafter be as-yet unprocessed for selection by one of the interleave means. 
     
     
       39. The data processing system of claim 37 wherein processing of an event record includes generating a report and selecting a destination for receipt of the report, the system further comprising: communication means associated with the processor means for transmitting the report from one of the processor means to the selected destination.   
     
     
       40. The data processing system of claim 39 further comprising: busy/ready means associated with a first of the processor means for indicating that the first processor means has already selected a destination being selected by a second of the processor means;   means associated with the second processor means for generating a busy/ready record with data correlated to at least the event record being processed by the second processor means; and   means associated with the first processor means for generating a second report based at least in part upon the data in the ready/busy record, whereby both the first-mentioned report and the second report are transmitted to the destination by the first processor means so the second processor means may be freed up to process another one of the event records in the meantime.   
     
     
       41. The alarm data system of claim 40 wherein the busy/ready means includes a flag which when set is indicative that the second processor has selected the same destination, and wherein the second processor means includes means for setting the flag in the busy/ready means. 
     
     
       42. The data processing system of claim 37 wherein the data in any of the sets of data includes a first portion identifying a source for the data and a second portion indicative of whether the data is for cancellation; each processor means including means operable when processing an event record based upon data having a second portion which is not indicative of a cancellation ("actual event record") for (i) examining a group of other event records for an event record based upon data having a second portion indicative of a cancellation ("cancel event record") and a first portion identifying the same source as the actual event record, and (ii) if such a cancel event record is found, terminating processing of the actual event record.   
     
     
       43. A data processing system comprising: record means for storing event records;   means receiving sets of data for (i) generating an event record for each of a plurality of the sets of data, and (ii) storing each event record, along with a sequence number corresponding to the order of receipt of the set of data, in the record means;   several processor means each for processing one of the event records from the record means, each of the processor means including (i) interleave means, operative upon completion of processing of the event record having a sequence number n, for selecting to be next processed by that processor means one of the as-yet unproduced event records having the lowest sequence number greater than n, and (ii) function means for selectively adapting the processor means to perform a variety of functions at least one of which is processing event records; and   supervisor means controlling the function means of each of the processor means for defining the respective function to be performed by that processor means.   
     
     
       44. The data processing system of claim 43, a first number of the processor means being adapted for processing event records, the supervisor means including means monitoring the record means for defining at least one additional processor means for processing event records when a quantity of event records waiting to be processed exceeds a limit. 
     
     
       45. The data processing system of claim 44, the limit being at least two times the first number of processor means. 
     
     
       46. The alarm data processing system of claim 43 further comprising: processor status means associated with each of the processor means for periodically being updated by the associated processor means with at least one of an indication of its function and the time of updating, wherein the supervisor means includes means monitoring the processor status means for determining when a processor has indicated at least one of (i) a time of updating more than a period of time before being monitored, and (ii) an erroneous function, whereby to determine whether that processor means may be faulty.   
     
     
       47. A telephone call initiated data processing system comprising: record means for storing an event record in response to receipt of data transmitted in a telephone call;   several processor means, each including function means for selectively adapting the processor means to perform a variety of functions at least two of which are input processing and output processing;   each processor means, when it is adapted for performing input processing, receiving sets of data for (i) generating an event record for each of a plurality of the sets of data, and (ii) storing each event record in the record means;   each processor means, when it is adapted for performing output processing, for processing one of the event records from the record means; and   supervisor means controlling the function means of each of the processor means for, selectively defining whether that processor means is to be adapted for performing one of input processing and output processing functions.   
     
     
       48. The telephone call initiated data processing system of claim 47, a first number of the processor means being adapted for output processing, the supervisor means including means monitoring the record means for defining at least one additional processor means for output processing when a quantity of event records waiting to be processed exceeds a limit. 
     
     
       49. The telephone call initiated data processing system of claim 48, the limit being at least two times the first number of processor means. 
     
     
       50. Redundant data processing systems each comprising: record means for storing event records:   means receiving sets of data for (i) generating an event record for each of a plurality of the sets of data, and (ii) storing each event record, along with a sequence number corresponding to the order of receipt of the set of data, in the record means; and   several processor means each for processing one of the event records from the record means, each of the processor means including interleave means, operative upon completion of processing of the event record having a sequence number n, for selecting to be next processed by that processor means one of the as-yet unprocessed event records having the lowest sequence number greater than n;   at least one of the systems further comprising:   supervisor means monitoring the record means of that system for transferring a group of event records not yet processed to another one of the systems for processing by the processor means of that other system.   
     
     
       51. The redundant data processing systems of claim 50 wherein each event record includes a status being initially set to indicate that the event record is as-yet unprocessed, each processor means including means for modifying the status flag of the selected event record, whereby that event record will not thereafter be as-yet unprocessed for selection by one of the interleave means. 
     
     
       52. The redundant data processing systems of claim 50 wherein processing of an event record includes generating a report and selecting a destination for receipt of the report, the system further comprising: communication means associated with the processor means for transmitting the report from one of the processor means to the selected destination.   
     
     
       53. The redundant data processing systems of claim 52 further comprises in each system: busy/ready means associated with a first of the processor means for indicating that the first processor means has already selected a destination being selected by a second of the processor means;   means associated with the second processor means for generating a busy/ready record with data correlated to at least the event record being processed by the second processor means; and   means associated with the first processor means for generating a second report based at least in part upon the data in the ready/busy record, whereby both the first-mentioned report and the second report are transmitted to the destination by the first processor means so the second processor means may be freed up to process another one of the event records in the meantime.   
     
     
       54. The redundant data processing systems of claim 53 wherein the busy/ready means includes a flag which when set is indicative that the second processor has selected the same destination, and wherein the second processor means includes means for setting the flag in the busy/ready means. 
     
     
       55. A method of reporting alarm events to municipal authorities incurred by subscribers of central stations comprising: storing identifying information for each of the subscribers; in response to subscribers having alarm events:   (i) selectively establishing electronic communication with each such subscriber's central station and, while so connected, receiving, from the central stations, sets of alarm data, each set of alarm data identifying at least one subscriber incurring an alarm event,   (ii) validating each of the sets of received alarm data based upon the stored identifying information,   (iii) generating and storing for each set of validated alarm data an event record having data based upon the validated alarm data, and   (iv) terminating electronic communication with the central station;     processing the stored event records based upon data from so-disconnected central stations so as to select, for each event record being processed, a municipal authority and to generate, for each event record being processed, an alarm information report including at least part of the stored identifying information for the subscriber incurring the alarm event, all based upon the data in the stored event record being processed; and   transmitting each alarm information report to the selected municipal authority.   
     
     
       56. The alarm reporting method of claim 55 further comprising establishing a communication link with the selected municipal authority to transmit the alarm information report, and thereafter terminating the communication link. 
     
     
       57. The alarm reporting method of claim 55 wherein the stored identifying information for each subscriber includes status information being indicative of whether the subscriber is active, the method further comprising: receiving data from one of the municipal authorities identifying a subscriber that is not to be active; and   modifying the stored status information for that subscriber accordingly, whereby received alarm data identifying that subscriber will not be validated.   
     
     
       58. The alarm reporting method of claim 55 further comprising: storing each event record with a sequence number corresponding to the order of receipt of the alarm data; and   upon completion of processing of the event record having a sequence number n, initiating processing of one of the as-yet unprocessed event records having the lowest sequence number greater than n.   
     
     
       59. A method of reporting alarm events to municipal authorities incurred by subscribers of central stations comprising: storing identifying information for each of the subscribers;   receiving, from the central stations, sets of alarm data, each set of alarm data identifying at least one subscriber incurring an alarm event;   validating each of the sets of received alarm data based upon the stored identifying information;   generating and storing for each set of validated alarm data an event record having data based upon the validated alarm data;   processing the stored event records so as to select, for each event record being processed, a municipal authority and to generate, for each event record being processed, an alarm information report including at least part of the stored identifying information for the subscriber incurring the alarm event, all based upon the data in the stored event record being processed wherein first and second of the stored event records are being separately but concurrently processed;   indicating that in processing of the first event record, the municipal authority selected thereby is also being selected in processing of the second event record;   generating a busy/ready record with data correlated to at least the second event record;   generating a second alarm information report based at least in part upon the data in the ready/busy record; and   transmitting each alarm information report to the selected municipal authority whereby both the first-mentioned alarm information report and the second alarm information report are transmitted to the municipal authority.   
     
     
       60. A method of reporting alarm events to municipal authorities incurred by subscribers of central stations comprising: storing identifying information for each of the subscribers;   receiving, from the central stations, sets of alarm data, each set of alarm data identifying at least one subscriber incurring an alarm event;   validating each of the sets of received alarm data based upon the stored identifying information;   generating and storing for each set of validated alarm data an event record having data based upon the validated alarm data;   receiving cancellation alarm data, the cancellation alarm data including data identifying one of the subscribers;   validating the received cancellation alarm data against the stored identifying information;   generating and storing an event record having data based upon the validated cancellation alarm data;   processing the stored event records so as so select, for each event record being processed, a municipal authority and to generate, for each event record being processed, an alarm information report including at least part of the stored identifying information for the subscriber incurring the alarm event, all based upon the data in the stored event record being processed;   when processing a stored event record based upon validated cancellation alarm data ("cancel event record"): examining a group of other stored event records for an event record based upon validated alarm data ("alarm event record") identifying the same subscriber;   if such an alarm event record is found, processing the cancel event record as if it were an alarm event record and including in the alarm information report that the report is of a cancellation; and   if no such alarm record is found, discontinuing processing of the cancel event record, whereby a municipal authority need not be selected and an alarm information report need not be generated; and     transmitting each alarm information report to the selected municipal authority.   
     
     
       61. The alarm reporting method of claim 60 further comprising receiving the cancellation alarm data from a telephone. 
     
     
       62. A method of reporting alarm events to municipal authorities incurred by subscribers of central stations comprising: storing identifying information for each of the subscribers;   receiving, from the central stations, sets of alarm data, each set of alarm data identifying at least one subscriber incurring an alarm event;   validating each of the sets of received alarm data based upon the stored identifying information;   generating and storing for each set of validated alarm data an event record having data based upon the validated alarm data;   receiving cancellation alarm data, the cancellation alarm data including data identifying one of the subscribers;   validating the received cancellation alarm data against the stored identifying information;   generating and storing an event record having data based upon the validated cancellation alarm data;   processing the stored event records so as so select, for each event record being processed, a municipal authority and to generate, for each event record being processed, an alarm information report including at least part of the stored identifying information for the subscriber incurring the alarm event, all based upon the data in the stored event record being processed;   when processing a stored event record based upon validated alarm data ("alarm event record"): examining a group of other stored event records for an event record based upon validated cancellation alarm data ("cancel event record") identifying the same subscriber;   if such a cancel event record is found, terminating processing of the alarm event record, whereby a municipal authority need not be selected and an alarm information report need not be generated; and     transmitting each alarm information report to the selected municipal authority.   
     
     
       63. The alarm reporting method of claim 62 further comprising receiving the cancellation alarm data from a telephone. 
     
     
       64. A method of reporting alarm events to municipal authorities incurred by subscribers of central stations comprising: storing identifying information for each of the subscribers;   receiving, from the central stations, sets of alarm data, each set of alarm data identifying at least one subscriber incurring an alarm event;   validating each of the sets of received alarm data based upon the stored identifying information;   generating and storing for each set of validated alarm data an event record having data based upon the validated alarm data;   processing the stored event records so as so select, for each event record being processed, a municipal authority and to generate, for each event record being processed, an alarm information report including at least part of the stored identifying information for the subscriber incurring the alarm event, all based upon the data in the stored event record being processed;   storing a vendor code and status information for each central station, the status information being indicative of whether the central station is active and wherein the alarm data further includes the vendor code of the central station from which the alarm data is received;   receiving data from one of the municipal authorities identifying a central station that is not to be active; and   modifying the stored status information for that central station accordingly, whereby received alarm data identifying that central station will not be validated.   
     
     
       65. A data processing method comprising: selectively establishing electronic communication with data sources;   receiving sets of data from the data sources;   generating and storing an event record for each of a plurality of the sets of data;   storing with each event record a sequence number corresponding to the order of receipt of the set of data upon which the event record is based;   disconnecting from each data source after receiving its sets of data;   processing generally concurrently several of the stored event records based on data from disconnected sources; and   upon completion of processing of one of the stored event records having a sequence number n, initiating processing of one of the as-yet unprocessed stored event records having the lowest sequence number greater than n.   
     
     
       66. The data processing method of claim 65 wherein processing of an event record includes generating a report and selecting a destination for receipt of the report and wherein first and second of the stored event records are being separately but concurrently processed, the method further comprising: indicating that in processing of the first event record, the destination selected thereby is also being selected in processing of the second event record;   generating a busy/ready record with data correlated to at least the second event record; and   generating a second report based at least in part upon the data in the ready/busy record, whereby both the first-mentioned report and the second report are transmitted to the destination.   
     
     
       67. A data processing system comprising: record means for storing event records;   a plurality of processor means each for processing one of the event records stored in the record means including generating a report and selecting a destination for receipt of the report;   busy/ready means associated with a first of the processor means for indicating that the first processor means has already selected a destination being selected by a second of the processor means;   means associated with the second processor means for generating a busy/ready record with data correlated to at least the event record being processed by the second processor means; and   means associated with the first processor means for generating a second report based at least in part upon the data in the ready/busy record, whereby both the first-mentioned report and the second report are transmittable to the destination from the first processor means so the second processor means may be freed up to process another one of the event records in the meantime.   
     
     
       68. The data processing system of claim 67 wherein the busy/ready means includes a flag which when set is indicative that the second processor has selected the same destination, and wherein the second processor means includes means for setting the flag in the busy/ready means. 
     
     
       69. Redundant data processing systems each comprising: record means for storing event records;   a plurality of processor means each for processing one of the event records stored in the record means including generating a report and selecting a destination for receipt of the report;   busy/ready means associated with a first of the processor means has already selected a destination being selected by a second of the processor means;   means associated with the second processor means for generating a busy/ready record with data correlated to at least the event record being processed by the second processor means;   means associated with the first processor means for generating a second report based at least in part upon the data in the ready/busy record, whereby both the first-mentioned report and the second report are transmittable to the destination from the first processor means so the second processor means may be freed up to process another one of the event records in the meantime; and   at least one of the systems further comprising:   supervisor means monitoring the record means of that system for transferring a group of event records not yet processed to another one of the systems for processing by the processor means of that other system.   
     
     
       70. The data processing system of claim 69 wherein the busy/ready means includes a flag which when set is indicative that the second processor has selected the same destination, and wherein the second processor means includes means for setting the flag in the busy/ready means. 
     
     
       71. An alarm data processing system for reporting to municipal authorities alarm events incurred by subscribers of central stations comprising: database means for storing identifying information for each of the subscribers;   record means for storing event records;   a plurality of processor means for (i) receiving, from at least one of the central stations, alarm data identifying at least one subscriber incurring an alarm event, (ii) validating the received alarm data based upon the identifying information in the database means, (iii) generating and storing in the record means an event record having data based upon the validated alarm data, (iv) processing one of the event records from the record means so as to select a municipal authority and generate an alarm information report including at least part of the identifying information from the database means for the subscriber incurring the alarm event based upon the data in the event record being processed, and (v) transmitting the alarm information report to the selected municipal authority;   DTMF processing means for (i) receiving cancellation alarm data, the cancellation alarm data including data identifying one of the subscribers, (ii) validating the received cancellation alarm data against the identifying information in the database means, and (iii) generating and storing an event record having data based upon the validated cancellation alarm data; and   wherein at least one of the processor means includes means operable when processing an event record based upon validated cancellation alarm data ("cancel event record") for (i) examining a group of other event records for an event record based upon validated alarm data ("alarm event record") identifying the same subscriber, (ii) if such an alarm event record is found, processing the cancel event record as if it were an alarm event record and including in the alarm information report that the report is of a cancellation, and (iii) if no such alarm record is found, discontinuing processing of the cancel event record, whereby a municipal authority need not be selected and an alarm information report need not be generated.   
     
     
       72. The alarm data processing system of claim 71 wherein the DTMF processing means includes means for receiving the cancellation alarm data from a telephone. 
     
     
       73. An alarm data processing system for reporting to municipal authorities alarm events incurred by subscribers of central stations comprising: database means for storing identifying information for each of the subscribers;   record means for storing event records;   a plurality of processor means for (i) receiving, from at least one of the central stations, alarm data identifying at least one subscriber incurring an alarm event, (ii) validating the received alarm data based upon the identifying information in the database means, (iii) generating and storing in the record means an event record having data based upon the validated alarm data, (iv) processing one of the event records from the record means so as to select a municipal authority and generate an alarm information report including at least part of the identifying information from the database means for the subscriber incurring the alarm event based upon the data in the event record being processed, and (v) transmitting the alarm information report to the selected municipal authority;   DTMF processing means for (i) receiving cancellation alarm data, the cancellation alarm data including data identifying one of the subscribers, (ii) validating the received cancellation alarm data against the identifying information in the database means, and (iii) generating and storing an event record having data based upon the validated cancellation alarm data; and   wherein at least one of the processor means includes means operable when processing of an event record based upon validated alarm data ("alarm event record") for (i) examining a group of other event records for an event record based upon validated cancellation alarm data ("cancel event record") identifying the same subscriber, and (ii) if such a cancel event record is found, terminating processing of the alarm event record, whereby a municipal authority need not be selected and an alarm information report need not be generated.   
     
     
       74. The alarm data processing system of claim 73 wherein the DTMF processing means includes means for receiving the cancellation alarm data from a telephone. 
     
     
       75. A data processing system comprising: record means for storing event records;   means receiving sets of data for (i) generating an event record for each of a plurality of the sets of data, and (ii) storing each event record, wherein the data in any of the sets of data includes a first portion identifying a source for the data and a second portion indicative of whether the data is for cancellation;   processor means for processing one of the event records from the record means, the processor means including means operable when processing an event record based upon data having a second portion which is not indicative of a cancellation ("actual event record") for (i) examining a group of other event records for an event record based upon data having a second portion indicative of a cancellation ("cancel event record") and a first portion identifying the same source as the actual event record, and (ii) if such a cancel event record is found, terminating processing of the actual event record.   
     
     
       76. An alarm data processing system for reporting to municipal authorities alarm events incurred by subscribers of central stations comprising: database means for storing (i) identifying information for each of the subscribers and (ii) a vendor code and status information for each central station, the status information being indicative of whether the central station is active in the system;   processor means for (i) receiving, from at least one of the central stations, alarm data identifying at least one subscriber incurring an alarm event and including the vendor code of the central station from which the alarm data is received, (ii) validating the received alarm data based upon the identifying information in the database means, and (iii) generating an event record having data corresponding to the validated alarm data for use in selecting a municipal authority and generating an alarm information report; and   receiving processor means for (i) receiving data from municipal authorities identifying a central station that is not to be active in the system, and (ii) for modifying the status information for that central station in the database means accordingly, whereby received alarm data identifying that central station will not be validated.   
     
     
       77. An alarm data processing system for reporting to municipal authorities alarm events incurred by subscribers of central stations comprising: database means for storing (i) identifying information for each of the subscribers including status information being indicative of whether the subscriber is active in the system;   processor means for (i) receiving, from at least one of the central stations, alarm data identifying at least one subscriber receiving an alarm event, (ii) validating the received alarm data based upon the identifying information in the database means, and (iii) generating an event record having data corresponding to the validated alarm data for use in selecting a municipal authority and generating an alarm information report; and   receiving processor means for (i) receiving data from municipal authorities identifying a subscriber that is not to be active in the system, and (ii) for modifying the status information for that subscriber in the database means accordingly, whereby received alarm data identifying that subscriber will not be validated.   
     
     
       78. A data processing method comprising: receiving sets of data;   generating and storing an event record for each of a plurality of the sets of data;   separately but concurrently processing in first and second processors at least a first and second of the event records, wherein such processing includes generating a report and selecting a destination for receipt of the report;   indicating that in processing of the first event record, the destination selected thereby is also being selected in processing of the second event record;   generating a busy/ready record with data correlated to at least the second event record; and   one of the processors generating a report based at least in part upon the data in the first event record and a second report based at least in part upon the data in the ready/busy record, whereby both the first-mentioned report and the second report are transmittable to the destination from the first processor.   
     
     
       79. A method of reporting alarm events to municipal authorities incurred by subscribers of central stations comprising: storing identifying information for each of the subscribers;   receiving, from the central stations, sets of alarm data, each set of alarm data identifying at least one subscriber incurring an alarm event;   validating each of the sets of received alarm data based upon the stored identifying information;   receiving cancellation alarm data, the cancellation alarm data including data identifying one of the subscribers;   validating the received cancellation alarm data against the stored identifying information;   generating and storing an event record having data based upon the validated cancellation alarm data; and   processing validated alarm data including:   selecting a municipal authority and generating an alarm information report including at least part of the stored identifying information for the subscriber incurring the alarm event based upon the validated alarm data;   examining for an event record based upon validated cancellation alarm data ("cancel event record") identifying the same subscriber; and   either transmitting the alarm information report to the selected municipal authority or, if such a cancel event record is found, terminating processing of the validated alarm data, whereby a municipal authority need not be selected and an alarm information report need not be generated.   
     
     
       80. The alarm reporting method of claim 79 further comprising receiving the cancellation alarm data from a telephone. 
     
     
       81. A method of reporting alarm events to municipal authorities incurred by subscribers of central stations comprising: storing identifying information for each of the subscribers;   receiving, from the central stations, sets of alarm data, each set of alarm data identifying at least one subscriber incurring an alarm event;   validating each of the sets of received alarm data based upon the stored identifying information;   generating and storing for each set of validated alarm data an event record having data based upon the validated alarm data;   receiving cancellation alarm data, the cancellation alarm data including data identifying one of the subscribers; and   validating the received cancellation alarm data against the stored identifying information;   processing validated cancellation data including:   examining for an event record based upon validated alarm data ("alarm event record") identifying the same subscriber;   if such an alarm event record is found, selecting a municipal authority and generating an alarm information report including at least part of the stored identifying information for the subscriber incurring the alarm event and including in the alarm information report that the report is of a cancellation and transmitting the alarm information report to the selected municipal authority; and   if no such alarm record is found, discontinuing processing of the cancel event record, whereby a municipal authority need not be selected and an alarm information report need not be generated.   
     
     
       82. The alarm reporting method of claim 81 further comprising receiving the cancellation alarm data from a telephone. 
     
     
       83. A method of reporting alarm events to municipal authorities incurred by subscribers of central stations comprising: storing identifying information for each of the subscribers;   storing a vendor code and status information for each central station, the status information being indicative of whether the central station is active in the system;   receiving, from the central stations, sets of alarm data, each set of alarm data identifying at least one subscriber incurring an alarm event and including the vendor code of the central station from which the alarm data is received;   validating each of the sets of received alarm data based upon the stored identifying information;   receiving data from one of the municipal authorities identifying a central station that is not to be active in the system;   modifying the stored status information for that central station accordingly, whereby received alarm data identifying that central station will not be validated;   processing validated alarm data including selecting a municipal authority and generating an alarm information report including at least part of the stored identifying information for the subscriber incurring the alarm event; and   transmitting each alarm information report to the selected municipal authority.   
     
     
       84. A method of reporting alarm events to municipal authorities incurred by subscribers of central stations comprising: storing identifying information for each of the subscribers including status information being indicative of whether the subscriber is active in the system;   receiving, from the central stations, sets of alarm data, each set of alarm data identifying at least one subscriber incurring an alarm event;   validating each of the sets received alarm data based upon the stored identifying information;   receiving data from one of the municipal authorities identifying a subscriber that is not to be active in the system; and   modifying the stored status information for that subscriber accordingly, whereby received alarm data identifying that subscriber will not be validated;   processing validated alarm data including selecting a municipal authority and generating an alarm information report including at least part of the stored identifying information for the subscriber incurring the alarm event; and   transmitting each alarm information report to the selected municipal authority.   
     
     
       85. An alarm data processing system for reporting to municipal authorities alarm events incurred by sources comprising: database means for storing identifying information for a plurality of the sources;   record means for storing event records;   several input processor means each for (i) receiving alarm data identifying the source incurring an alarm event, (ii) validating the received alarm data based upon the identifying information in the database means, and (iii) generating and storing in the record means an event record having data based upon the validated alarm data;   several output processor means each for (i) processing one of the event records from the record means so as to select a municipal authority and generate an alarm information report including at least part of the identifying information from the database means for the source incurring the alarm event based upon the data in the event record being processed, and (ii) transmitting the alarm information report to the selected municipal authority.   
     
     
       86. An alarm data processing system for reporting to municipal authorities alarm events incurred by sources comprising: database means for storing identifying information for a plurality of the sources;   record means for storing event records;   several processor means, each including functions means for selectively adapting the processor means to perform a variety of functions at least two of which are input processing and output processing;   each processor means, when it is adapted for performing input processing, for (i) receiving alarm data identifying the source incurring an alarm event, (ii) validating the received alarm data based upon the identifying information in the database means, and (iii) generating and storing in the record means an event record having data corresponding to the validated alarm data;   each processor means, when it is adapted for performing output processing, for (i) processing one of the event records from the record means so as to select a municipal authority and generate an alarm information report including at least part of the identifying information from the database means for the source incurring the alarm event based upon the data in the event record being processed, and (ii) transmitting the alarm information report to the selected municipal authority; and   supervisor means controlling the function means of each of the processor means for defining the respective function to be performed by that processor.   
     
     
       87. Redundant alarm data processing systems for reporting to municipal authorities alarm events incurred by sources, each system comprising: database means for storing identifying information for a plurality of the sources;   record means for storing event records;   several input processor means each for (i) receiving alarm data identifying at least one source incurring an alarm event, (ii) validating the received alarm data based upon the identifying information in the database means, and (iii) generating and storing in the record means an event record having data corresponding to the validated alarm data; and   several output processor means each for (i) processing one of the event records from the record means so as to select a municipal authority and generate an alarm information report including at least part of the identifying information from the database means for the source incurring the alarm event based upon the data in the event record being processed, and (ii) transmitting the alarm information report tot he selected municipal authority; and   at least one of the systems further comprising:   supervisor means monitoring the record means of that system for transferring a group of event records not yet processed to another one of the systems for processing by the output processor means of that other system.   
     
     
       88. Redundant alarm data processing systems for reporting to municipal authorities alarm events incurred by sources, each system comprising: database means for storing identifying information for a plurality of the sources;   record means for storing event records;   several input processor means, each including function means for selectively adapting the processor means for performing a variety of functions two of which are input processing and output processing;   each processor means, when it is adapted for performing input processing, for (i) receiving alarm data identifying at least one source incurring an alarm event, (ii) validating the received alarm data based upon the identifying information in the database means, and (iii) generating and storing in the record means an event record having data corresponding to the validated alarm data;   each processor means, when it is adapted for performing output processing, for (i) processing one of the event records from the record means so as to select a municipal authority and generate an alarm information report including at least part of the identifying information from the database means for the source incurring the alarm event based upon the data in the event record being processed, and (ii) transmitting the alarm information report to the selected municipal authority; and   supervisor means controlling the function means of each of the processor means for defining the respective function to be performed by that processor means; and   the supervisor means of at least one of the systems including means monitoring the record means of that system for transferring a group of event records not yet processed to another one of the systems for processing by the output processor means of that other system.   
     
     
       89. An alarm data processing system for reporting to municipal authorities alarm events incurred by sources comprising: database means for storing (i) identifying information for a plurality of the sources including status information being indicative of whether the source is active in the system;   processor means for (i) receiving alarm data identifying at least one source receiving an alarm event, (ii) validating the received alarm data based upon the identifying information in the database means, and (iii) generating an event record having data corresponding to the validated alarm data for use in selecting a municipal authority and generating an alarm information report; and   receiving processor means for (i) receiving data from municipal authorities identifying a source that is not to be active in the system, and (ii) for modifying the status information for that source in the database means accordingly, whereby received alarm data identifying that source will not be validated.   
     
     
       90. A method of reporting alarm events to municipal authorities incurred by sources comprising: storing identifying information for a plurality of the sources including status information being indicative of whether the source is active in the system;   receiving sets of alarm data, each set of alarm data identifying at least one source incurring an alarm event;   validating each of the sets received alarm data based upon the stored identifying information;   receiving data from one of the municipal authorities identifying a source that is not to be active in the system;   modifying the stored status information for that source accordingly, whereby received alarm data identifying that source will not be validated;   processing validated alarm data including selecting a municipal authority and generating an alarm information report including at least part of the stored identifying information for the source incurring the alarm event; and   transmitting each alarm information report to the selected municipal authority.